Can I salvage my career after SAHM 22 years?

[Anonymous]

I know there are lots of lawyers here. Be kind, I've been though a lot. After graduation from law school /passing the bar, I got married right away and had a child who had lots of challenges. I stayed home to care for him. Then (of course) I got sick and was chronically ill for many years. I'm healing now. I don't regret staying at home to help my son. He's doing well now and I couldn't be more proud. But now that he's more independent, I feel like life has passed me by and I've lost any opportunity for a career. I still want to use my degree, even if it's to do pro bono work. I would love to help children or do human rights work. Sadly, I don't remember much from school and I don't know how useful I can be to anyone. How can I get back in? How can I find a mentor? Who would take me even as a volunteer with my non job history?

[Anonymous]

You can work or volunteer but not as a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

You probably remember more than you think!

[Anonymous]

How about being a paralegal or legal secretary to get back in the game.

You could be a court clerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

Did she keep up her license?

[Anonymous]

Just cold call struggling law offices or non profits and find a volunteer gig in their law offices to get your foot in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

Sure. And how many jobs are going to hire someone who passed the bar 22 years ago and had no experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

Did she keep up her license?

She didn't need to but she can take bar anytime she wants.

[Anonymous]

Join the Federal govt they hire washed up lawyers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

Sure. And how many jobs are going to hire someone who passed the bar 22 years ago and had no experience?

That's a different question but you can't contest her degree. She'll struggle for many years but she can make it happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

Did she keep up her license?

She didn't need to but she can take bar anytime she wants.

lol, she can't just take the bar anytime she wants when she doesn't remember anything she learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don’t have a career to salvage.

+1. You should have been building your career for 2 decades. Others were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Join the Federal govt they hire washed up lawyers

Yep, worked for me.

I was *only* out 8 years though.

[Anonymous]

OP did you actually pass the Bar and have you maintained an inactive Bar license in your jurisdiction?

There are many nonprofits that hire recent law school graduates in unpaid internships and once you have a foot in the door you could work your way into a paid position. If you have the luxury of working without needing to get paid, it’s never too late to build a career you’re on equal footing with a recent graduate and a step ahead if you’ve got a Bar license that can be reactivated. If you don’t have an inactive license, then your first step is to dive into a Bar review course, take the Bar and get licensed.

You will face age discrimination, as nearly all middle aged women do regardless of career history. Having the advantage of being able to work without earning wages to begin with might help you get a foot in the door and then as always it’s your performance that will determine your future success.